Giants beat Indians on Hicks’ walk-off homer, Vogelsong’s gem

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA – APRIL 27: Ryan Vogelsong #32 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Cleveland Indians during the first inning at AT&T Park on April 27, 2014 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images)

SAN FRANCISCO — The outing that preceded Ryan Vogelsong’s gem Sunday is one he would just as soon forget. However, he gleaned enough from his poor showing to correct a glaring problem with his mechanics in time to sparkle in the Giants’ 4-1 win over the Cleveland Indians.

Brandon Hicks’ walk-off, three run home run with two outs in the ninth punctuated the Giants’ three-game sweep.

Vogelsong said he spotted a “pretty major flaw” in his mechanics during a 1﻿1/3-inning outing — the shortest of his Giants career — against the Colorado Rockies on April 21.

The attention to detail showed Sunday, as Vogelsong limited the Indians to two hits and two walks in seven scoreless innings.

The Giants matched their season-high win streak with a fourth straight victory.

Vogelsong didn’t go into specifics about the flaw that he detected on videotape, but he said it had a lot to do with his legs.

“I was out of there so quick (against the Rockies), there’s really not a whole lot to digest,” Vogelsong said. “I watched a couple of pitches; it was pretty apparent what I was doing wrong. I really tried to fix it this whole week.”

Vogelsong fell behind in the count to batters most of the day. However, time and again he made quality pitches when he needed to most. His ERA dropped from 7.71 to 5.40 in the process.

Perhaps, most impressive, Vogelsong shut down an Indians lineup that featured eight left-handed hitters. Left-handed hitters batted .389 off Vogelsong in his first four starts.

“He used all his pitches,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “He commanded well. He got behind at times, but he did a good job of getting back in the count. … He did a great job of pitching.”

And Hicks did an admirable job of capitalizing on the first fastball he received from hard-throwing Indians reliever Cody Allen.

Hicks watched the first pitch sail inside for a ball. He then guessed fastball, got just that and launched it over the left-field wall.

“You got to be ready for it when a guy is throwing like that,” Hicks said. “That’s why I was going up saying to myself when I went up for that at-bat, I want to be on time. I want to be ready for it, if and when he throws a fastball.”

Bochy isn’t surprised by much from Hicks these days. Hicks made the opening-day roster after he shined from the outset in spring training.

On Sunday, he made his presence felt in the field and at the plate. He started a double play in the third inning by snaring a Nick Swisher one-hop smash up the middle and flipping the ball to Brandon Crawford at second.

“When I came into the dugout, Buster (Posey, catcher) gave me a wow,” Vogelsong said of the double play. “That kind of let me know just how good it was.”

At this rate, Hicks is doing everything he can to make life without injured second baseman Marco Scutaro more palatable.

“He’s getting some big hits for us,” Bochy said. ” … To get a big hit like that, he’ll always remember that because, two outs, you’re trying to end that game in the ninth, it doesn’t get any bigger than that.”

Yan Gomes’ home run off Santiago Casilla leading off the eighth inning snapped a string of 19 consecutive scoreless innings for Giants relievers at home.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt struck out swinging in all four of his at-bats Sunday as his average dipped to .263. Belt went 0 for 12 against the Indians with nine strikeouts. He is 2 for 20 in his past five games.

“He’s got to be frustrated,” Bochy said. “As a hitter, you think you’re right on it and you’re swinging right through ’em. It’s hard to get over that part of it. He’s seeing the ball well. He feels like he’s getting his swings off.”

Bochy said he will speak with Belt before Monday’s game against the Padres and see if a day off is something that might help him.

The Giants on Sunday surpassed the Philadelphia Phillies for the National League record with their 258th straight sellout.

The Giants streak now is the third-longest streak ever. The Boston Red Sox (794) and Indians (455) hold the top two spots.

“Incredible, it really is,” Bochy said. “I know that was quite a run that Philly had. For us to pass that is impressive.

“We’re very grateful, thankful for the support that we get here. It is tremendous.”

TRANSBAY WALK-OFF

With his walk-off home run for the Giants on Sunday, Brandon Hicks now has hit a walk-off homer for both the Giants and A’s. Here’s a look at both blasts:

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